I’ve Been Kicked So Many Times, But I Keep On Going, British PM, Cameron Jokes As He Bows Out

July 13, 2016

David Cameron has admitted that he had been kicked so many times in his political career but that he had kept going on, even as he formally bowed out of the Dowing Street, the official seat of the Prime Minister.

Cameron, who made his last appearance on Wednesday, as prime minister before making way for Theresa May to lead the monumental task of extricating Britain from the EU, said: “I have been kicked so many times but I say ‘Keep going, it is only a flesh wound. I admire that.’’

At the Parliament where he exchanged banters, the outgoing Prime Minister said: “This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.

“Other than one meeting this afternoon with Her Majesty the Queen, the diary for the rest of my day is remarkably light,’’ as members of the House of Commons roared in laughter.

He was due to present his resignation to the queen at Buckingham Palace at around 1600 GMT.

Then May will pay her own visit to the monarch to be formally entrusted with the job, before entering 10 Downing Street to become Britain’s second woman prime minister after Margaret Thatcher.

Cameron stepped down after Britons rejected his entreaties and voted in a June 23 referendum to quit the EU, weakening the 28-nation bloc and creating huge economic uncertainty.

Apart from the task of executing ‘Brexit’, May must try to unite a divided party and a nation in which many, on the evidence of the vote, feel angry with the political elite.

There was an atmosphere of hilarity in parliament as Cameron traded humorous jabs with beleaguered opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, in spite of the serious backdrop.

“I am beginning to admire his tenacity; he is reminding me of the black knight in Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

He took the opportunity to trumpet his government’s achievements in generating one of the fastest growth rates among western economies, chopping the budget deficit, creating 2.5 million jobs and legalising gay marriage.

However his legacy would be overshadowed by his failed referendum gamble, which he had hoped would keep Britain at the heart of a reformed EU.

(Reuters/NAN). [myad]

Abuja Disco Is Extorting Us, Kuje Residents Cry Out, March On The Street In Protest

Greenbarge Reporters

July 13, 2016

One of the numerous protesters who blocked some roads in Kuje, capital of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Blessing Eze has accused the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) of extorting money from the consumers for the energy they did not consume for months.

“It will amount to disservice and extortion if AEDC will make consumers in Kuje to pay for what was not consumed in spite of complete power outage. We did not see electricity for over five months and I do not know how they manufactured the bills they distributed to us.”
This facts emerged the time some residents of Old NEPA Road in Kuje marched in protest over what they called epileptic power supply and outrageous bills which AEDC used to send to consumers in the area.
The protesters blocked the entrance to the Kuje office of the AEDC, carrying placards with the inscription: “Stop giving us electricity bills without light.”
The leader of the protesters, Princess Oge, told the News Agency of Nigeria that AEDC used to send them electricity bills regularly without regular supply of electricity.
Oge said that AEDC had no reason billing consumers for the months of February to June since there was complete power outage during the period.
She said: “Since the beginning of this year we have not had electricity in this area, yet we receive electricity bills every month. In the interest of peace and harmonious relation, I call on AEDC to cancel the bills since there was no supply of power within the period.
“We are also appealing to the government to come to our aid to address this problem to avoid fracas that may likely break out if this problem is not resolved.”
The protesters vowed to resist payment of electricity bills from February to June and urged AEDC to reverse the charges.
The protesters vowed that they would resist any attempt by AEDC to embark on disconnection in the area.
Efforts made by NAN to speak with Hajiya Yusuf Manager, the Kuje Business Unit of AEDC, did not yield result as she declined to speak to journalists on the issue. [myad]

Melaye Blows Grammar, Says His Alleged Plot To Impeach Buhari Is Narrative Of Attack Dogs Of Demagogues

Greenbarge Reporters

July 13, 2016

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, has dealt a blow on English grammar as he tried to explain that he is not part of the plan to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

Said he: “It is pertinent to note that the incredulously machinated misinformation was orchestrated by forces bent on destabilizing the upper chambers of the Nigerian Parliament for selfish reasons.
“One of the mushroom and faceless online platforms used to promote the ill-fated and calumnious write-up has been notorious for serving as the propagandist machinery of political commercialists who are pushing for the extension of their fiefdom to the National Assembly.
“While I remain unimpeachably committed to the leadership of the Senate, I believe the respected arm of government charged with the onerous responsibility of law making should be given the independence to conduct its business.
“It is untrue and malicious; the allegation is the narrative of the attack dogs of demagogues who have decided to turn Nigeria upside down for failing to choose leaders for Senators.
“I am a responsible Nigerian, role model and a champion of anti-corruption and equity which my party (APC) stands for. I therefore urge the general public to discountenance the libelous publication as I will continue to respect the history, culture and excellence of my Kogi West people on the floor of the Senate. The true threats to the current Republic are those who believe that a Nigeria that is not led by them must not exist.”

Melaye represents Kogi West Senatorial District in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The diatribe was contained in a statement he personally issued on Wednesday in Abuja. [myad]

How Funke Emerged Acting President Of Nigerian Guild Of Editors

Greenbarge Reporters

July 13, 2016

The vacancy created by the exit of the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Alhaji Garba Deen Muhammad, paved the way for the emergence of the prominent female journalist and renown columnist, Funke Egbemode, to grab the position in acting capacity over the weekend.

Garba Deen is now the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abuja.
Funke Egbemode, who is currently the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph newspaper, emerged the actig President at the second quarterly meeting of the Guild’s Standing Committee, held in Abuja.
Before joining the New Telegraph, Egbemode had also worked in the Sun, Punch and Post Express Newspapers and notable Nigerian newspapers.
She also served as the Special Adviser on Media to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh.

Meanwhile, the former Abia state governor and Publisher of the Sun titles, Dr. Orji Kalu, has hailed the emergence of Funke Egbemode as the Acting President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
Kalu described Egbemode as a veteran journalist who has contributed immensely to the media industry, adding that she has the capacity to steer the affairs of the Guild.

Kalu is sure that the new President would bring to bear her vast experience and network of contacts.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “I received with joy the news of the emergence of one of my colleagues, Mrs Funke Egbemode as acting President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
“Her emergence is not a surprise to many Nigerians who are conversant with her media endeavours.
“Having served in various capacities and positions in the world of journalism, there is no doubt in her capability to sustain the good name of the professional body.
“Mrs. Egbemode has over the years created a niche for herself in the media industry and as such her new role as acting President of NGE is in the interest of the professional body.”
The former governor advised media professionals to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties, adding that the strategic importance of the media cannot be undermined in the society.
He said the media is the voice of the voiceless even as he commended the Guild for being gender-neutral in its appointments. [myad]

We’ll Soon Go After Lawyers Who Help Treasury ‘Looters’ Escape Justice – EFCC Boss

Greenbarge Reporters

July 13, 2016

Acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu has said that the anti-graft agency will soon go after senior lawyers who aid and abet financial and economic crimes.

He spoke at the opening of a one-day workshop organized by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in collaboration with the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACC) at the Rockview hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the anti financial crime boss said at the workshop that the EFCC could not stamp out corruption in the country without the support of all stakeholders.

“We consider everybody a stakeholder, as the EFCC does not have monopoly of knowledge to defeat all shades of graft.”

The anti-graft czar urged legal practitioners to always play by the rule and avoid being used by corrupt elements to pervert justice, adding that “what is important is the interest of the nation which should be placed above any other interest”.

Magu, who commended the bar for being good partners in the fight against graft, however decried the attitudes of some lawyers who compromise on their jobs for criminals to escape justice. He added that lawyers have a greater stake in the war more than any other class of professional.

He reiterated his commitment towards fighting money laundering, even as he warned: “we will not stop going after people who are involved in laundering money.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, the law is a respecter of nobody especially those who commit crime,” he said.

“Whether you are EFCC, SAN or whatever, sooner or later we will start going after people who buy properties with stolen funds as well as people who help others to escape justice.”

In his keynote address, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed urged members of the bar to examine themselves with a view to develop workable ways to curb corruption.

Mohammed, who spoke through Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, charged them to look inward as individuals in the system, and collectively as a body to improve the legal system.

“You have a role to play as an individual and it is when we all change our attitude that we can see it reflected in the society. No doubt, the legal profession is crucial in the maintenance of a high quality of justice delivery within the justice system and such success or failure of our fight against corruption will depend on our willingness to take the right ethical path,” the CJN said. [myad]

Senator Melaye To Senator Tinubu: I Will Beat You Here And Nothing Will Happen

Greenbarge Reporters

July 12, 2016

Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, threw caution into the gutter on Tuesday when he threatened to beat his fellow Senator, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu (APC Lagos Central) and that nothing would happen.

“I will beat you up on this floor and nothing will happen,” Melaye raged when Senator Oluremi Tinubu asked the raving Senators not to reduce the floor of the Senate to a kindergarten where they could just issue childish threats. She called on Senators to close ranks and seek reconciliation amongst its members.

This came on the heels of an uproar caused by the current trial of the leadership of the Senate for forgery, which led some Senators to threaten to impeach President Muhammad Buhari, even as Melaye vowed to ‘impregnate’ Remi Tinubu, who is the wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Shortly after commencement of a plenary session, some Senators called on their colleagues, led by Senators Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi (APC Kaduna North) and Kabir Marafa (APC Zamfara Central) to sheathe their sword and withdraw the petition that had led to the criminal prosecution of Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

The Executive Session, which was chaired by Saraki, also reminded the Senate that a committee led by former Senate President David Mark had been set up to “reconcile” members. But, Mark said that he was not informed that he would chair such a committee and that he didn’t know any member. He was simply told to do his “work.”

Shortly after that, Senator Melaye said that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, must be brought before the Senate to be thoroughly grilled and humiliated for charging the Senate leadership with forgery in court.

Melaye called on the Senators in attendance to fight the presidency to a standstill and went ahead to rant, issuing a wide variety of threats.

Recognized to speak, Senator Remi Tinubu said that the Senate should not be reduced to a kindergarten where Senators could just issue childish threats, and called on Senators to close ranks and seek reconciliation amongst its members.

That was when Melaye flew into rage, calling her names and saying: “I will beat you up on this floor and nothing will happen,” he threatened.

The statement caused a commotion on the floor as Senators in her support gathered to protect her. Senate President Saraki nodded as Melaye called Mrs. Tinubu unprintable names according to Senators who intervened to save her from the rampaging Melaye.

Leading the offensive in support of Melaye were Senators Danjuma Goje, Jibrin Barau, Isa Misau and Peter Nwaoboshi.

In addition, the Senators held to be behind the current forgery trial are said be under threat by the like-minded Senators, with Melaye threatening to kill anyone who shows up in court to testify against Saraki and Ekweremadu. [myad]

Buhari Appoints Hadiza Bala Usman Nigerian Port Authority MD

Greenbarge Reporters

July 12, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a 40 year old female activist, Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), with effect from July 11.

She takes over from Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, who was reinstated by Buhari in August 2015 as the managing director of NPA, after he was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2015.

Hadiza Bala Usman is the founder of Bring Back Our Girls Campaign, with hash tag: #BringBackOurGirls. She is coming in as the first female chief executive of a top tier federal government agency and of the NPA.

The new Managing Director had earlier, in July 2015, been appointed by Governor Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna state as his Chief of Staff, a position she held until her new appointment.

Buhari also appointed Mohammed Bello-Koko as the Executive Director (Finance), Professor Idris Abubakar as Executive Director (Engineering) and Dr. Sekonte Davies as Executive Director (Marine Operations) in the same NPA. [myad]

CAN Declares War In Nigeria: Asks Christians To Defend Themselves Against Killings

Greenbarge Reporters

July 12, 2016

The national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has virtually declared war against Nigeria with a call on Christians to defend themselves against the background of the alleged killing of Christians across some states especially the recent one in Abuja.

A statement issued in Abuja by the General Secretary CAN, Rev. Musa Asake: “The unprovoked attacks on Christians and the authority’s inaction is becoming unbearable and may not be tolerated anymore, inasmuch as we will continue to call on Christians to remain tolerant and law abiding, it is becoming inevitable to also call on them to buckle up and be ready to defend themselves against these incessant unprovoked and mindless attacks.”

CAN said: “authority’s inaction is becoming unbearable and may not be tolerated anymore,” and asked all the Christians to always be ready to defend themselves against further attacks.

“The National leadership and the entire members of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have received with rude shock and disbelief the report of yet another religious hatred murder of a dedicated 42 year old Christian mother of seven children, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, who on Saturday 9th July, 2016, was brutally killed while doing Christian evangelism.

“Mrs. Eunice Elisha was murdered in Kubwa area of Abuja, FCT, in the early hours of the day. Her neck was slashed and she was also stabbed in the stomach. About a month ago in Kano, Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, a 74 year old Christian was murdered at Wambai market due to an altercation with a Muslim man who came to the front of her shop to perform ablution. Her offence was that she objected to the Islamic washing rite in front of her shop.

“Just last week a clergyman of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Reverend Zakariya was killed by attackers suspected to be Fulani Herdsmen in Obi LGA of Nasarawa state. They attacked him on his farm, cut off his arms and legs, then they chopped his head with a machete. Another fresh but sad news reaching us is that of the Fulani herdsmen militia that is back on rampage killing 81 people in multiple attacks in Logo and Ukum local government areas of Benue state in central Nigeria.

“In recent times, there have been multiple cases of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on various Christian communities, all over the nation. In the South East and in the South South zones, there have been gruesome attacks on IPOB members and on Christian communities in the Niger Delta. All these are in addition to the relentless attacks of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt and southern Borno.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria commiserates with the families affected by these mindless orgies of death and destruction as well as with the entire Christian community in Nigeria. We pray that God in His mercy shall comfort and strengthen the families of all the Nigerians affected in these unwarranted murders unleashed upon the nation by religious extremists.

“The recurring decimal of violence and murder of innocent Nigerian citizens on the basis of religious intolerance demands specific and relevant response from all concerned citizens in the country more so when the government in power seems to have adopted an attitude of lukewarm response to the evils being perpetrated in Nigeria in the name of religion.

“The discrimination against non-Muslims in Nigeria under the Buhari Administration is assuming a dangerous dimension that should not be left to the vagaries of time and circumstance to resolve.

“You will agree with me that with these happenings and the lukewarm attitude by the authorities concern toward putting an end to it, Nigeria is dancing a macabre dance of death, both for the nation and for its citizens. It is time to stop the beat and let common sense guide the nation out of the present quagmire. A stitch in time saves nine.

“Before the situation escalates into an unmanageable national crisis, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is calling on the authorities both at the states and federal to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to justice if the confidence of Christians on this government must be maintained.” [myad]

AfricaWorking Is Set To Engage 250,000 Youth On Employable, Entrepreneurship Skills

Greenbarge Reporters

July 12, 2016

AfricaWorking, a new private sector initiative committed to impacting Africa on employability and entrepreneurship skills has concluded plans to support 200,000 youth and 50,000 entrepreneurs in Nigeria, dovetailing to 2020.

The new group consists private companies like Microsoft, Barclays, Africa, Emerging World, FranklinCovey, Knod, Safal and Syngeta, have the objective of channeling their collective powers to create job opportunities across Africa.

Dean of the Microsoft 4Afrika Academy, Lutz Ziob, explained in a statement that most large corporations are looking at youth skills development in one form or another, because it’s important to their business.

“The idea behind AfricaWorking is to bring these corporations together, align their efforts, share their learnings and build human capital on a pan-Africa scale.”

General Manager, Enterprise Development: Citizenship for Barclays Africa, Mr. Charles Reed, projected that by 2045, Africa’s labour market would be the biggest in the world, pointing out that it presented a huge opportunity for the group to engage the youth, help them develop relevant skills and find meaningful employment opportunities.

Reed said key to the effort to realize the agenda was for members of AfricaWorkingto collaborate and leverage technology where it makes sense to do so.

ReStraL Ltd, a company founded in 1996 by a former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ifueko Omogui-Okauru, represents FranklinCovey in Nigeria and other parts of English speaking Africa. [myad]

Pro Biafran Group Accuses Avengers Of Hiding Under Kanu’s Detention To Perpetrate Crime

Greenbarge Reporters

July 12, 2016

A pro- Biafra group, Biafra Liberation Council (BLC) has accused the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) of hiding under Nnamdi kanu’s detention and struggle to liberate the Niger Delta region, to perpetrate criminal activities.

In a statement signed by Mr. Austin Ndukwu and Dom Offornwoke, the group said that the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers are not in tandem with the aspiration of Biafra agitation, stressing that they have brought hardship and sufferings to the same people they seek to liberate.

“They should stop hiding under support for Biafra cause and Nnamdi Kanu’s detention to carry out criminal activities. The Niger Delta Avengers are yet to categorically state what they want. “They should know that the time to hoodwink people is over. Biafra people should shine their eyes before jumping into conclusions and alliances with group whose only interest is to negotiate contracts. Soon, they will seek amnesty, to satisfy the interest of their slave masters from the North; forgetting the people they claim to be fighting.”

The group accused Tompolo and other ex militants of using the Niger Delta struggle to enrich themselves at the detriment of the people they claimed to be fighting for.

“Where are the Tompolos, Asaris Dokubo, Boyloafs, Egberipapas and others of the resource control struggle? What became of them after the amnesty was granted and during the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan? Today, they are stinking rich while the Niger Delta is still under the clutches of the parasites from the North of Nigeria. It is time we call a spade its name and stop dancing to the gallery.”

They challenged the Avengers to agitate for the release of other prisoners of conscience, including MEND leader, Henry Okah, who is languishing in South African prison, if they are sincerely fighting for Kanu’s release. [myad]

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